SickKids Hospital is embarking on a long-term expansion of their Downtown Toronto campus, dubbed Project Horizon. With much attention being paid to the recently announced second phase, the Peter Gilgan Family Patient Care Tower, the project's first phase is quietly progressing at the corner of Elm and Elizabeth Streets. Work on the B+H Architects-designed Patient Support Centre (PSC) recently began with the start of demolition on the 1983-built Elizabeth McMaster Building occupying the site, a task which has been picking up steam in the last few weeks.

Looking northeast to the Elizabeth McMaster Building, image by Jack Landau

Crews from PCL and Priestly Demolition are working on the interior gutting of the 8-storey medical building, with the first signs of cladding removal spotted last month. A big change came this month, when a Postmodern-style pedestrian bridge crossing over Elizabeth Street and connecting the structure with the main SickKids complex to the west was demolished. A new bridge will replace the removed one, matching the style of the new PSC.

Looking south to the Elizabeth McMaster Building in May, image by Forum contributor Red Mars

Comparing the views above and below, the bridge's former connection with the McMaster building has been covered up by a scaffold and green protective netting as crews begin the removal of the building's west wall, a mix of insulated metal panels and glazing. 

Looking south to the Elizabeth McMaster Building, image by Jack Landau

Cladding removal is already evident along the north side of the building. Here, an already demolished one-storey section of the building at Walton and Elizabeth is now being used as a sorting and loading area for debris, while also in use as a staging area for a large mobile crane now assisting in the demolition. 

Looking south over the Elizabeth McMaster Building, image by Jack Landau

A closer view of the roof shows direct evidence of the crane's role in the demolition, with a construction vehicle hoisted into place from street level.

Looking south to the Elizabeth McMaster Building, image by Jack Landau

Clearing of the old structure will create a blank canvas for construction of a new 22-storey tower, set to reach a height of 102 metres. A mix of educational and simulation spaces will be housed in the 39,652 m² building, with the first four floors to be publicly-accessible, offering spaces including conference rooms and a library, as well as a café and lofty atrium lobby at street level.

Looking north to the Patient Support Centre, image via submission to City of Toronto

Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.

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